Field Bio-efficacy of Chemical, Botanical and Bio-pesticides against Spodoptera litura Fab. in Sugarbeet

The efficacy of neonicotinoid, nereistoxin analogue, organophosphorus, carbamate insecticides, neem derivatives and an egg parasite, Trichogramma chilonis were studied for the control of Spodoptera litura in sugar beet (Var. Posada and HI 0064) during winter season in 2004–2005 and 2006–2007. The pooled and significant data indicated that the spraying of quinalphos 25EC @ 0.05% recorded the maximum (97.2%) reduction of Spodoptera larvae followed by chlorpyriphos 20EC @ 0.1% (94.1%). Imidacloprid 17.8 SL @ 0.008% also gave 80.2% reduction in larval population. T. chilonis @ 50000/ha and spraying of azadiractin 3000 ppm (5 ml/lit) gave 89.7 and 89.3% reduction of larval population of Spodoptera and found effective and safe treatment to combat the sugar beet pests. Granular insecticides were found to be ineffective. Spraying of quinalphos (0.05%) yielded maximum of 75.5 t/ha beet root followed by chlorpyriphos (0.1%) and imidacloprid spraying with 70.33 and 71.51 t/ha. The treatment quinalphos, chlorpyriphos and imidacloprid were proved the most economical with ICBR ratio of 1.63, 1.57 and 1.56, respectively. Azadiractin and Trichogramma release resulted more root yield than control.